Maple Leafs planning blockbuster deal ahead of trade deadline?!

The Maple Leafs’ blue line is coming apart at the seams in Toronto with Mark Giodarno out week to week with a fractured finger as he joined a full infirmary where John Klingberg can be found since he was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) last week with what has since been confirmed by team GM Brad Treliving to be a hip injury. On top of that, Toronto has already exceeded the salary cap with Jake Muzzin ($5.625 million )and goalie Matt Murrray ($4.687 million) out for the season. However, they have $3.109 million in cap space with Klingberg and blue liner Timothy Liljegren also on LTIR.

The defense trade market has been moving lately with the Vancouver Canucks acquiring Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames on Thursday. That might get Toronto to plan a huge move as Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest edition of 32 Thoughts on Sportsnet that GM Brad Treliving could consider a blockbuster trade at the deadline for a rental player on the back end.

“Toronto is down three defencemen: Mark Giordano (injured Tuesday, length of time to be determined), John Klingberg (could be rest of the season) and Timothy Liljegren (already out three weeks). As they consider what to do, the biggest question might be, “Is this the year to spend key assets on rentals?” A less-costly depth option, OK. Someone with term or that you know you can sign, all right. But a pure rental? Do they think that makes sense for this team, this season?”

The Maple Leafs were looking at options in Calgary as Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev remain available, and Treliving had a glimpse of what it might cost him to deal with his former club. Zadorov was acquired in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (acquired from CHI) and a third-round pick in 2026.

Talks emerged that the Maple Leafs even attempted to acquire Zadorov and Tanev, but failed to make the deal before the Canucks swooped in and landed the Russian blue liner.

There is also reported interest in former Leaf Ilya Lyubushkin of the Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Walker and Columbus Blue Jackets’ Andrew Peeke as trade options.

However, a monster rental trade might be what comes at the deadline for Toronto. Let’s see if Treliving dares to pull the trigger…

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